Mica: Ukiyo-e colorant

From CAMEO
Revision as of 13:38, 27 October 2024 by MDerrick (talk | contribs) (→‎Examples of Mica in Ukiyo-e Prints)
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
The Heron Maiden by Kitagawa Utamaro I

Mica 雲母 (kira or unmo): A group of silicate minerals that cleave into thin, flexible sheets. Mica can appear in a variety of tones depending on its origin and preparation. Mica appears to have been domestically available as well as through trade. Good quality mica was known to have been mined in Mikawa (present day eastern Aichi). It is ground into a powder for use on ukiyo-e prints. Powdered mica can be printed or sprinkled to create a shimmering effect. Paste or animal glue (膠 nikawa) would be used to affix the mica. On its own it is a pearlescent white but mica can also be mixed with a colorant to make colored mica. Pink, mica and a red colorant or dark gray, mica and carbon black are the commonly found colored micas. It can also be found applied over a printed color.

Large fields of mica appears most frequently on prints made during the late 18th century that depicted actors and beautiful women where it was used on the background to highlight the figure.

For additional information see: Mica

Examples of Mica in Ukiyo-e Prints

11.14364-pt9-detail.png

1114364-Pt9-XRF.jpg
Pt 9: Mica
Kitagawa Utamaro I, 11.14364

11.14674-pt6-detail.png

1114674-Pt6-XRF.jpg
Pt 6: Dark gray mica
Tōshūsai Sharaku, 11.14674

34.269a-b-pt11-detail.png

Indigo FORS.JPG
Pt 11: Overprinted mica
Kitagawa Utamaro I, 34.269a-b

Dyed indigo.jpg

Indigo FORS.JPG
Pt 10: Sprinkled mica
Chōbunsai Eishi, 21.4912

11.15095-pt4-detail.png

11.15095 Pt 4 XRF 2021.jpg
Pt 4: Mica
Utagawa Kunisada, 11.15095

Analysis

X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) is used to detect silicon (Si), aluminum (Al), potassium (K), and iron (Fe). In conjunction with visual inspection, it is an indication for the presence of mica.

Images of Mica

List of Prints

Below is a list of prints where mica was detected.